Clouds (2004)
7 large scale digital photographs of clouds with accompanying voice explaining how scientists endeavour to predict the effect of climate change on clouds globally.
The symphony of climate change is conducted by the clouds. Although flying in a cloud seems like slicing through almost nothing – just gravity defying fog – these riders in the sky exert enormous influence on the Earth’s climate. Cirrus clouds, that form transparent brush-strokes of angel hair at high altitudes, transmit much incoming sunshine, yet block the escape of Earth’s invisible infra-red heat radiation to space. Their delivery of incoming sunshine and blockage of outgoing infra-red radiation heats the planet. But lower, thicker clouds, like Cumulus , cool the climate because their brilliant white tops reflect sunshine strongly and prevent its warming effect from reaching the Earth’s surface.
A warmer climate is expected to evaporate more water vapour from the world’s vast oceans and forests. As that vapour cools on its upward journey through the atmosphere, will it condense to form more low thick clouds that cool the planet, or high transparent clouds that warm it? The behaviour of clouds in a warmer world is the focus of intense research. We still don’t know just how the clouds will conduct the complex symphony of climate change.
by Terry Gillespie
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Inner Space TEM Images
Images of the structure of Asbestos taken with a Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM).